God...please hold this child in the palm of Your hand...

I drove into town late yesterday evening to start gathering some things for our upcoming vacation. After having just been there, I had reservations about heading into town again this morning to hop around to a couple of socially distanced yard sales (like how I slipped that in there?). The two older kids were up and wanted to go, so dressed we got and off we went. I could’ve stayed home…I almost changed my mind about going, but today…today I’m glad we went.

We had just drove away from the second yard sale and the gps was directing us to the next stop. I pull up to a stop sign, glance to the left, then did a double take. Right beside the curb on the opposite side, walking uphill on the street - pink Minnie Mouse suitcase on wheels in tow, was a tiny little girl. I thought to myself that she was too young to be on the street alone…I glance in the yards of the two houses she is near…no one around. I sit at the stop sign for just a second…I see her look my way as I’m rolling my window down.

“Hey sweetie…are you okay?”

She looked at me…blood covering her sweet face, wet too with tears, and without hesitation she says “no”.

My heart sank.

Perfect dark skin, hair well kept with adorable barrettes in her braids and two little puffs of hair gathered on each side. One barrette was yellow.

I immediately put the van in park, leaving Carson and Effie in the car and telling them to stay put. I rush into the road where she stopped for me now. I grabbed her suitcase and gently guide her over to my van. No parent in sight. She’s five. F.I.V.E. and alone. I call out to Carson to call 9-1-1.

So many things running through my mind. At the time, I didn’t know if someone had hurt her…the blood was half wet/half dried on her face and her hands too, the blood smeared about. I look down the street half expecting someone who may have hurt her to be searching for her, and honestly I was scared. I was scared that my children were with me. I knew I had taken my gun, for which I have a conceal permit, out of my purse a week or so ago…I had not put it back like I planned. I just didn’t know who might be coming for her and if she was running from something or someone. The lady from dispatch answers as Carson hands me my phone…I tell her our intersection and the story, and I ask her to please send an officer.

After talking with this sweet girl, she tells me her name and that she was at her dad’s house…she woke up with a nosebleed, which she says she has a lot. She went looking for someone and no one was home. She packed her bag and was headed to her mama’s house, who she says doesn’t live far, but also says is at work. She said she got lost. I hang up with dispatch and waited for someone to arrive…honestly, still watching for someone to be looking for her. A few cars stopped to ask if we were ok…a few cars drove right past.

As we wait on an officer to arrive, I help her into our van and I try and help her get cleaned up…I can’t find wipes, so I gather a clean old t-shirt that was in a bag headed to donation, and a bottle of water. Slowly, I clean all the blood from her face, her neck and her hands. Her nails are painted a variety of colors. Her eyes are beautiful, and although she was trying so hard to be brave, a quiet tear would occasionally slip from her eye. She had packed her suitcase with her clothes all by herself…we make much small talk. She is supposed to start kindergarten this fall. She is five. I’m going to keep hitting home on her age - mingle with a five year old and remind yourself how vulnerable that age is.

Officers arrive after nearly 15 minutes…three are with us now. I walk just out her earshot and tell them her story, then walk over to introduce them to her. When asked, she tells one officer that she thinks she can lead him to her dad’s house. I help her out of the van and lean down to her. I fight back my own tears, and I tell her as I have already, that she is so brave and that I’m so very proud of her. That sweet baby woke up in need of help…didn’t have any, and took control of her life…packed a bag and decided she was taking it into her own hands. While I wouldn’t encourage her to walk out of her house, I believe this girl is going places, literally and figuratively. To have the guts to walk out with a packed bag when you’re five, well, she’s got kahunas that many don’t. I recall another young girl, around her age (not naming names), not injured, but mad with her mama at the time..that packed a bag and decided she was going to live somewhere else…well, I didn’t because my mama stopped me (and I’m glad she did), but I wasn’t scared either. I feel like my life took me where I wanted it to go, so independence isn’t so bad maybe:).

The officers gather my contact information. I squat and I hug her so tight and wish I could just know that she would be safe when she gets back home- I assure her that they would take the very best care of her, then I watched the officer take her hand and walk in the direction she was pointing. I climb in my car, fasten my seatbelt…and the floodgates opened. It’s so hard to stop the tears and Carson reaches out to hold my hand.

This fragile young girl…on a street, so vulnerable - I was so thankful that she didn’t get hit by a car…so thankful that she wasn’t picked up by a stranger with bad intentions… thankful that I was there, and thankful that my kids were able to witness the morning.

I haven’t gotten an update, although I did leave a message that I would love an one if possible. I pray tonight that she is safe in a bed, where for SURE, there will be someone there if she wakes up and needs help. I pray that she is loved like she deserves. And I pray that she remembers how brave I think she is.

I read somewhere that “to make a difference in someone’s life, you don’t have to be smart, rich or perfect…you just have to care”. I don’t know that it will make a difference in her life, but I know it made a difference in mine today, and it was an experience that I don’t believe either Carson or Effie will ever forget.

Please join me in remembering this young girl in your prayers - I don’t know her entire situation, but I believe prayers are powerful and I’d be willing to bet, she could use all she can get.